The Biochemistry major conforms to the recommendations of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the American Chemical Society. Through a rigorous course of study with a strong emphasis on the learn-by-doing approach, the Biochemistry Program is committed to providing the practical knowledge and skills necessary for graduate study in biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology, or admission to professional school. It will also enable students to obtain skilled technical positions after graduation in research laboratories in universities, biotechnology or pharmaceutical development industries, hospitals and government agencies. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply for off-campus internships in biochemistry. In addition, each junior and senior Biochemistry major presents two program seminars covering information from the current biochemical literature as well as writing and defending a senior thesis, usually relating to research they have completed.

The course of study normally pursued by Biochemistry majors is:

First Year

Code

Course

Credits

BIO 101

Biological Principles I
1

Offered: Fall Semester

An introduction to the concepts of molecular biology, the cell, energetics and genetics.

Fulfills the Natural Scientific Inquiry requirement.

4

CHM 113

General Chemistry I

Offered: Fall and Spring Semesters

The fundamentals of chemistry are covered including: matter and measurement, atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, and an introduction to chemical kinetics and equilibrium.

Fulfills the Natural Scientific Inquiry requirement.

4

MTH 125

Calculus I

Offered: Fall and Spring Semesters

Calculus of a single variable: functions, limits, derivatives, differentiation rules, applications of derivatives, integrals, techniques of integration, applications of integration, infinite sequences and series, first and second order differential equations. May not receive credit for both MTH 125 and MTH 119.

4

BIO 102

Biological Principles II

Offered: Spring Semester

An introduction to the principles of evolution, biodiversity, and ecology.

Prerequisite(s): CHM 113 (with a grade of C- or better - starts with the Class of 2019).

4

MTH 126

Calculus II

Offered: Fall and Spring Semesters

Calculus of a single variable: functions, limits, derivatives, differentiation rules, applications of derivatives, integrals, techniques of integration, applications of integration, infinite sequences and series, first and second order differential equations.

BIO 212

Genetics

Offered: Spring Semester

Classical genetics of eukaryotes, the biochemistry of gene function, regulation of gene expression, mutation and repair, and genetics of prokaryotes and viruses. Laboratory work stresses classical and molecular genetics research techniques. (CORE)

Junior Year

Code

Course

Credits

BCH 343

Biochemistry I

Offered: Fall Semester

Structure and dynamics of amino acids, peptides and proteins. Enzyme mechanisms and kinetics. Function and mechanisms of coenzymes, survey of carbohydrates, lipids, biological membranes and nucleic acids. An introduction to the bioenergetics and mechanisms of metabolism.

Corequisite(s): CHM 222.

3

BCH 447

Junior Fall Biochemistry Seminar
3

Offered: Fall Semester

Third-year Biochemistry majors meet with Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty once a week for both internal and external seminars. Each student is required to prepare and present a half-hour seminar on a topic of his/her choice found in a current professional journal. All students are expected to attend and provide professional evaluations of other students' seminar presentations.

Prerequisite(s): Junior Biochemistry majors only.
Students will earn four credits in the second semester senior year upon successful completion of BCH 447, BCH 448, BCH 449, and BCH 450 .

Zero

BIO 304

Molecular Biology
(or BIO 309 in Spring)

Offered: Fall Semester

This course provides an in-depth coverage of advanced cell and molecular genetics topics, expanding on fundamental topics covered in BIO 212 - Genetics . It reviews modern molecular biology techniques with emphasis on experimental design and data analysis. It incorporates material from the textbook and from current scientific literature. The laboratory portion introduces molecular techniques like cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and RFLP.

CHM 301

Professional Ethics in Chemistry and Biochemistry
2

Offered: Fall Semester

Discussion and resolution of ethical problems and safety associated with the fields of chemistry and biochemistry will be explored. Topics include: responsible treatment of data, reporting scientific information, responsibilities of the peer review system, conflicts of interest, relationship of chemistry to society and its impact on public health and the environment, and issues of safety in the laboratory.

BCH 344

Biochemistry II

A comprehensive examination of metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

Prerequisite(s): BCH 343.

3

BCH 345

Biochemistry Laboratory (WID)
4

Offered: Spring Semester

The course applies both classical and modern biochemical techniques to the characterization of amino acids, the purification of proteins, the analysis of enzyme kinetics, and the study of DNA denaturation.

BCH 448

Junior Spring Biochemistry Seminar
3

Offered: Spring Semester

Third-year Biochemistry majors meet with Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty once a week for both internal and external seminars. All students are expected to attend and provide professional evaluations of other students' seminar presentations.

Prerequisite(s): BCH 447.
Students will earn four credits in the second semester senior year upon successful completion of BCH 447, BCH 448, BCH 449, and BCH 450 .

Zero

BIO 309

Microbiology
(or BIO 304 in Fall)

Offered: Spring Semester

A survey of microorganisms with emphasis on bacteria. Topics include: microbial cell biology, growth, metabolism, and genetics; control of microbial growth; host-microbe interactions; and environmental microbiology.

CHM 331

Analytical Chemistry
5

Offered: Spring Semester

This course provides an in-depth study of chemical equilibrium in acid-base, complexation, oxidation-reduction and precipitation reactions, as well as incorporates a survey of analytical instrumentation. Quantitative analysis methods, including titrations, spectroscopy, chromatography, and potentiometry, are discussed and performed with rigorous statistical evaluation of experimental data in a 4-hour weekly laboratory session.

Prerequisite(s): CHM 221 (with a grade of C- or better - starts with the Class of 2019)..
Fulfills the Statistical Reasoning requirement.

4

Senior Year

Code

Course

Credits

BCH 449

Senior Fall Biochemistry Seminar
3

Offered: Fall Semester

Fourth-year Biochemistry majors meet with Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty once a week for both internal and external seminar presentations. During the fall semester of the fourth year each student is required to prepare and present a half-hour seminar on a topic of his/her choice found in a current professional journal. All students are expected to attend and provide professional evaluations of other students' seminar presentations. During the fall semester, each fourth-year student will be expected to start writing a thesis. Preferably this thesis will cover experimental or theoretical research the student has actually done.

Prerequisite(s): BCH 448.
Students will earn four credits in the second semester senior year upon successful completion of BCH 447, BCH 448, BCH 449 and BCH 450.

Zero

BCH 450

Senior Spring Biochemistry Seminar & Thesis

Offered: Spring Semester

Fourth-year Biochemistry majors meet with Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty once a week for both internal and external seminar presentations. All students are expected to attend and provide professional evaluations of other students' seminar presentations. Each fourth-year student will be expected to write and defend his/her thesis in the spring semester of the fourth year.

Prerequisite(s): BCH 449.
Students will earn four credits in the second semester senior year upon successful completion of BCH 447, BCH 448, BCH 449, and BCH 450.

4

Notations

1 Fulfills the Natural Scientific Inquiry requirement of the Cornerstone Program.2 Fulfills the Moral Inquiry requirement of the Cornerstone Program.3 Required in each semester of the junior and senior years and satisfies the Capstone Experience requirement of the Cornerstone Program. Four credits are obtained in the second semester of the senior year.4 Fulfills the Writing-in-the-Disciplines requirement of the Cornerstone Program.5 Fulfills the Statistical Reasoning requirement of the Cornerstone Program.

Biochemistry Honors

Students who complete the honors requirements in Biochemistry below will be awarded a degree "with honors in Biochemistry."

an overall GPA of at least 3.40; and

a science (Biochemistry, Biology and Chemistry) GPA of at least 3.40.

conduct research approved by the Program Director; and earn at least a "B+" on both the thesis and thesis defense required for BCH 450 - Senior Spring Biochemistry Seminar & Thesis. This thesis will be based on thesis research, internship, S.U.R.E. project, or other college-level research experience.

American Chemical Society Certification

Biochemistry majors desiring an American Chemical Society certified degree must have at least 76 hours of additional, for credit, chemistry or biochemistry laboratory experience over the laboratory experience associated with the courses specifically required for the biochemistry major. Contact Professor Marilena Hall, Biochemistry Program Director, for more information.